Sign cabinet



Sept. 29,1936.

R. A. DlC ZKSEN SIGN CABINET Filed May 11, 1935 III/ll /Illlllltll lmfeniif mm,

orne gs Patented Sept 29, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SIGN CABINET Delaware Application May 11, 1935, Serial No. 21,058

7 Claims.

My invention relates to gaseous signs and transformers and supporting, housing and controlling means therefor, and it has for its principal object the provision of a new and improved form and arrangement of parts comprising a unitary structure by which the desired housing and supporting means for the parts are provided and. by which ready access is afiorded to the working parts in case it may be necessary to repair or replace any of the mechanism. It is one of the objects of my invention to provide an improved arrangement in which the transformer is located in a cabinet which is suspended within convenient reach of a workman, the gaseous sign tube in turn being supported by suspension from the cabinet through the medium of the insulated cables by which current is supplied to the sign from the transformer.

It is one of the objects of my invention to provide an improved arrangement of this type in which the transformer housing extends beyond the ends of the transformer, with partitions providing end compartments closed off from the chamber portion within which the transformer is located, within which compartments are located the means for effecting the desired connections between the transformer and the circuit leads supplying current to the transformer and from the transformer to the sign, the housing being 39 provided with end closure members removably secured in position so as to provide ready access to the end compartments, all of the electrical and mechanical connections between the transformer and its source of power and the gaseous tube being effected independently of the end closure members so as to facilitate adjustment or replacement of the parts. It isone of the objects of my invention to provide an arrangement of this type in which the electric cables which carry the current from the transformer to the gaseous tube serve also as means for supporting the tube from the transformer and its housing. To this end, it is one of the objects of my invention to provide improved electrical and 5 mechanical connections between the secondary leads and the transformer. v

It is another object of my invention to improve devices of this type insundry details hereinafter pointed out. The preferred means by 50 which I have accomplished my several objects are illustrated in the drawing and are hereinafter specifically described. That which I believe to be new and desire to cover by Letters Patent is set forth in the claims.

55 In the drawing-- Fig. 1 is a central vertical section through the preferred form of my improved device;

Figs. 2 and 3 are cross sectional views taken upon an enlarged scale upon the line 2-2 and the line 3--3 respectively of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail view similar to a portion of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view through an approved form of means for connecting a lead to a gaseous sign.

Referring now to the several figures of the drawing, in which corresponding parts are indicated by the same reference characters, 10 indicates a housing which in the arrangement shown is in, the form of a cylinder made of sheet metal and open at both ends. As is clearly shown in Fig. 1, the cylinder is provided with brackets II on its upper face by which it is suspended from above by means of a chain l2 so as to be in convenient position for access thereto by a workman.

Within the intermediate portion of the housing ID, I have provided a transformer I3 of any suitable type, being fixed in position within the cylinder between partitions l4 and I5 which close off end compartments l6 and I1 respectively from the intermediate compartment I8 occupied by the transformer. In the arrangement shown, the transformer I3 is of the reactance type, comprising a core is upon which a primary coil 28 and secondary coils 2|! and 22 are mounted, the core means is comprising shunt arms 23 extending between the primary coil 2% and the secondary coils 2i and 22 respectively.

In the arrangement shown, each of the partitions it and i5 is provided with an opening therethrough within which a wall portion 24 of porcelain or other insulating material is removably fixed, the insulating wall portions 24 being preferably held in position by means of lugs 25 thereon adapted to be entered through notches 25 (see Fig. 2) so as to hold the insulating wall portions in position by what is in effect a bayonet slot arrangement. Each of the end compartments l6 and i1 is closed at its outer end by means of an inwardly dished closure member or cap 21 which is secured releasably in position by means of a bracket 28 extending outwardly from the adjacent partition. The closure member 21 at the right in Fig. 1 is held in position by means of an ordinary bolt 29, while the cap 21 at-the left in said Fig. 1 is held in position by means'oi' a tubular bolt 30, the arrangement being such that each of the closure members 21 is capable of being removed without affecting the connections of any of the parts located in the adjacent end compartment.

In the arrangement shown in Fig. 1, the primary coil 28,0f the transformer has current fed 5 thereto by leads 3| which extend from the pri- 1 mary coil through openings in the partition I l and out through a bushing 32, a switch 33 of any suitable type being interposed in one of the leads 3| for controlling the delivery of current to the primary coil. In the arrangement shown the switch 33 is of the chain-pull type, with the chain 34 of the switch extending outwardly through the tubular-bolt 30 at the end of the housing. I

Each of the insulating wall portions 24 of the partitions l4 and I5 is provided with an opening 35 therethrough (see'Fig. 2) through which a lead 36 from the adjacent secondary coil extends,

a the outer ends of the leads 36 being connected with binding posts 31 mounted upon the outer faces of the insulating wall portions 24. Secondary leads 38 in the form of insulated wires are connected with the binding posts 31 respectively, extending thence downwardly through bushings 5 39 carried by the wall of the cylinder II), the lower ends of the leads 38 being connected with the electrodes of a gaseous tube sign 40, protecting sleeves 4| of insulating material being mounted about the connections between the leads and the electrodes of the sign.- For mechanically supporting the leads 38 from the transformer l3 and the housing In, I have provided clamping means upon the outer faces of the insulated wall portions 24, such clamping means comprising trans versely disposed ribs 42 and bars 43 between which the insulation of the leads 38 is securely clamped by means of machine screws 44, the ribs 42 in the arrangement shown being formed integrally with the wall portions 24.

By the use of my improved arrangement, in which all of the releasable connections for the leads to and from the transformer are located within the end compartments, and whereby ac cess is afi'orded to the end compartmentswithout 45 disturbing the electrical connection of the parts,

I have provided a construction which is very convenient in use and one which will stand up during'long periods of use. By the provision of mechanical clamping means for securing the secondary leads 38 in position, I have relieved the electrically connecting parts from the necessity of serving as supports for the sign, whereby any necessity for undue tightening of the electrically connecting parts is obviated. When it becomes necessary to repair or replace parts, this can be readily effected with a minimum disarrangement of the parts.

While I prefer to employ the form of construction as illustrated, it is to be understood that my 50 invention is not limited thereto except so far as the claims may be so limited by the prior art.

I claim: I

1. In a device of the type described, the combination of a housing member open at both ends, 65 a transformer fixed in said housing, transverse partition walls closing off end compartments in said housing beyond the ends of the transformer and comprising at least portions thereof of insulating material, secondary leads electrically 70 connected with said transformer and extending through openings through said insulating wall portions respectively, insulated secondary leads clamped mechanically on the outer faces of said insulated wall portions, binding posts with which 75 both of said sets of secondary leads are connected, a gaseous sign electrically connected between said second named secondary leads and held suspended thereby, and closure members for the ends of said housing removably secured in position independently of the connections of said 5 secondary leads.)v l

2. In a device of the type described, the combination of a housing of sheet metal open at both ends, a transformer fixed in said housing, transverse partition wall members secured in said 10 7 housing beyond the ends of the transformer and provided with openings therethrough, wall portions of insulating material removably secured in said openings, secondary leads electrically connected with said transformer and extending 15 through openings in said insulating wall portions respectively, insulated secondary leads clamped mechanically on the outer faces of said insulating wall portions respectively, releasable binding means electrically connecting said second named 20 secondary leads with said first named secondary leads, a gaseous sign electrically connected between said second named leads and held sus pended thereby, and closure members for the ends of said housing removably secured in posi- 25 tion independently of the connection of said secondary leads.

3. In a device of the type described, the combination of a housing of sheet metal open at both ends, a transformer fixed in said housing, 30 transverse partition wall members secured in said housing beyond the ends of the transformer and provided with openings therethrough, wall portions of insulating material removably secured in said openings, secondary leads electrically connected with said transformer and extending through openings in said insulating wall portions respectively,-insulated secondary leads, binding posts mounted on the outer faces of said insulated wall portions for connecting said second 40 named secondary leads with said first named secondary leads, a transverse rib on the outer face of each of said insulated wall portions below said binding posts, clamping bars, means adjustably connecting one of said clamping bars 45 with each of said insulated wall portions for clamping one of said insulated secondary leads between the bar and the transverse rib, a gaseous sign electrically connected between said second intermediate leads and held suspended thereby, and closure members for the ends of said housing removably secured in position independently of the connections of said secondary leads.

4. In a device of the type described, the combination of a housing open at both ends, a trans- 55 former fixed in said housing, transverse partitions secured in said housing beyond the ends of the transformer serving toclose 01f end compartinents from the chamber portion occupied by the transformer, brackets mounted on the outer faces of said partitions and extending outwardly therefrom, secondary leads connected with said transformer and extending through openings in said partitions into said end compartments, circuit means in said end compartments releasably connected with said secondary leads for taking current from said transformer, closure means for the ends of said housing, and means releasably secured to said brackets for holding the closure members rigidly inclosure position independently of the connections of said circuit means with the transformer.

5. In a device of the type described, the combination of a housing in the form of a cylinder open at both ends, a transformer fixed in said housing, transverse partitions secured in said housing beyond the ends of the transformer serving to close 011 end compartments from the chamber portion occupied by the transformer brackets mounted on the outer faces of said partitions and extending outwardly therefrom be yond the ends of the cylinder, secondary leads connected with said transformer and extending through openings in said partitions into said end compartments, binding posts mounted on the outer faces of said partitions to which said secondary leads are connected, other secondaryleads releasably connected with said binding posts and extending downwardly through openings in the wall of the cylinder, a gaseous sign electrically connected with and supported by said sec-c ond named secondary leads, means for mechanically connecting said second named secondary leadswith said partitions, inwardly dished closure members for the ends of said housing, and means adapted by releasable engagement with said brackets to hold said closure members in closure position independently of the connections of said leads with said binding posts.

6. In a device of the type described, the combination of a housing open at both ends, a transformer in said housing, transverse partition walls closing off end compartments in said housing beyond the ends of the transformer and comprising at least portions thereof of bushings of insulating material, secondary leads electrically connected with said transformer and extending through the openings in said bushings respectively, the housing having openings leading into the respective end compartments, bushings of insulating material in said second named openings, insulated secondary leads extending through the second mentioned bushings respectively, clamping means in each of said end compartments supported by one of the bushings therein for holding the second named lead therein, releasable binding means electrically connecting the second' named leads with the first named leads, a

gaseous sign electrically connected between the second named leads and held suspended thereby, and closure means for the respective end compartments removably secured in position independently of the connections of said secondary leads.

"'7. In a device of the type described, the com-: bination of a housing of sheet metal open at both ends, a transformer in said housing, transverse partition walls closing off end compartments in said housing beyond the ends of the transformer and provided with openings therethrough, bushings of insulating material secured in said openings, secondary leads electrically connected with the transformer and extending through the openings in said bushings respectively, said housing having openings leading into said respective end compartments, bushings of insulating material in said last named openings respectively, insulated secondary leads, binding posts mounted on the first named bushings for connecting the second named leads with the first named leads, a gaseous sign electrically connected between said second named leads, a clamping device in each of said end compartments below the binding post therein around the second named lead therein and supported by one of the bushings therein for relieving the binding post of the weight of the second named lead and the sign supported thereby, and closure members for the respective end compartments removably secured in position independently of the connections of said secondary leads.

' RALPH A. DICKSEN. 

